Former President Barack Obama made a splash on Twitter today after he announced his first Democratic endorsements, in a signal that he––as long speculated––will play a significant role in the leadup to November’s midterm elections.

“Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent,” Obama wrote.

Today I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates – leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent: pic.twitter.com/gWzalQhFas

Obama expressed confidence that the individuals on the list––which includes candidates in states as diverse as Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, and Texas––would “strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity, repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law.”

“But first,” the former president added, “they need our votes.”

I’m confident that, together, they’ll strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity, repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law. But first, they need our votes.

Gavin Newsom, the current Lieutenant Governor of California, who has long established himself as one of President Trump’s more vocal critics;

Jared Polis, who is running for Governor of Colorado and has served as the U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 2nd congressional district since 2009;

Stacey Abrams, who is the Democratic Party’s nominee in Georgia’s gubernatorial election and is the first black female major party gubernatorial nominee in the United States;

Kwame Raoul, who is the Democratic Party’s nominee for Attorney General of Illinois and has served in the Illinois Senate representing the 13th congressional district since 2004;

Deidre DeJear, who is running for Secretary of State in Iowa and has pledged to defend voting rights;

Laura Fortman, who since 2013 she has served as deputy administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the United States Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. and is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate for the state of Maine;

Jacky Rosen, who has served as the U.S. Representative from Nevada’s 3rd congressional district since 2017 and is the Democratic Party’s nominee for U.S. Senate in Nevada;

Andy Kim, a former United States National Security Council official and diplomat who is running to represent New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives;

Deb Haaland, the former Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico who is running to represent New Mexico’s 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives;

Wiley Nickel, a practicing attorney who is running to represent North Carolina’s Senate in the 16th congressional district and has vowed to “focus on strengthening our schools, creating high paying jobs, expanding access to affordable healthcare and protecting our state’s natural resources”;

Richard Cordray, who served as the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from 2012 to 2017, and previously served as Ohio’s Attorney General, Solicitor General, and Treasurer. He is looking to succeed John Kasich for the governorship;

Madeleine Dean, a current Member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly who is running for U.S. House of Representatives in the recently redrawn 4th congressional district;

Adrienne Bell, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’s 14th congressional district. “There’s no reason the 14th district should not be an economic leader. Health care, a good education, and the opportunity to succeed; that’s what people deserve and it’s what Adrienne Bell will fight for as your Representative,” Bell says on her official campaign website.

Neither President Trump nor members of his administration have commented on Obama’s list, which is the opening salvo from a man whose legacy the current president has often impugned.

Alan is an editor whose work has been featured in such publications as Salon, The Advocate, Plus Magazine, and The Huffington Post. As a member of Team Takei, Alan has worked with actor and activist George Takei to push progressive policy initiatives. Alan was born, raised, and still lives and works in New York City, which makes him a member of a dying breed.